Melissa grew up working at her family's nursery and landscaping business before deciding that she wanted to strike out on her path, but she knew she wanted to stay in the industry. A 2018 graduate of the Landscape, Plant, and Turf Management program, she has now founded her own business and established her own place in the industry.

She enjoyed her time at CVTC because of the relationships and connections with her teachers and classmates. She credits the program for helping her find a direction for her career and teaching her necessary technical skills, including soil science. She is incredibly thankful for instructor Susan Frame who supported her and helped her grow.

Initially operating a greenhouse for another business owner, her plans changed when she decided to start her own greenhouse. The road to opening was not always smooth, including finding land and clearing trees to make the location suitable for her new business. She credits the CVTC program for giving her insights into greenhouse building and maintenance.

She now recently held the grand opening for her business Raintree Garden Center. Located on the west side of Eau Claire, they carry a wide variety of annual and perennial flowers, vegetables, and herbs and specialize in hanging baskets. Melissa enjoys combining locally-made pottery and her plants to create unique and colorful creations.

Melissa now partners with CVTC by offering internship opportunities to current students and working together with faculty on orders, plant preparation, and sharing growing space. She would like to operate and grow her business and help the community find beauty for years to come.